Texas Flood Havoc: 24 Dead, 23 Girls Missing From Summer Camp Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts

Texas Flash Floods Kill 24, 23 Girls from Summer Camp Missing as Rescue Efforts Intensify.

A devastating flash flood swept through Texas Hill Country late Friday night, leaving at least 24 people dead and dozens missing—including 23 girls from a Christian summer camp near the Guadalupe River—officials confirmed Saturday.

Torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise by nearly 26 feet in under an hour, inundating parts of Kerr County and catching many by surprise. Local officials described the flood as both “sudden” and “catastrophic.”

“Some are adults, some are children,” said Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at a press conference. “We still don’t know where all the bodies came from.”

Among the missing are girls attending Camp Mystic, which had more than 700 children present when the flooding began. Patrick said some of the missing may have taken shelter nearby but remain out of communication.

“They could be in trees. They could just be unreachable,” he added.

Lack of Warning System Cited
Officials in Kerr County admitted the region lacks a dedicated flood warning system, contributing to the scale of the tragedy. “We didn’t know this flood was coming,” said County Judge Rob Kelly. “There is no regional alert system in place.”

Massive Rescue Operation Underway
Emergency crews have launched an extensive search and rescue operation involving over 400 responders, 14 helicopters, multiple boats, and drones. Agencies from across the state—including the Texas Department of Public Safety, Houston Fire Department, and federal teams from FEMA—have joined the efforts.

Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration and urged residents to follow all emergency instructions and avoid flooded areas. “Texas is deploying every available resource to support Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, and the broader Hill Country,” Abbott said.

Dozens of residents have been displaced, and widespread property damage has been reported. Officials say the rescue operation will continue around the clock as they work to locate the missing and assess the full extent of the destruction.